Alexandria’s Channel 5 headquarters suffered an unprecedented state of confusion after its chief, Ismail Al Sheikha, ordered the evacuation of all employees at once. The channel’s broadcast was abruptly stopped late Wednesday afternoon and replaced with Egypt’s Channel 1.

A source in Channel 5 confirmed that armoured vehicles and tanks surrounded its HQ and soldiers closed all roads leading to it. The source added that the security apparatus received reliable intelligence indicating that protesters may attempt to take over the channel on Friday.

The channel had stopped broadcasting on 29 January but resumed work in the past 3 days, while its administration issued strict orders not to mention a “people’s revolution” or any of the ongoing related events. This policy appears to have provoked Alexandria’s citizens.